For Shanghai beer, choose The BREW if you want house-brewed beer with a meal, or 233 if the draw is a broad rotating selection of imported craft beer. Those are different evenings: a Pudong brewpub and a Changning specialist beer bar. Pick the one that fits your hotel and the beers you want to explore.
Where should you start with Shanghai craft beer?
| Place | Why shortlist it | Chinese map search |
|---|---|---|
| The BREW | House beer, pub food and a seated meal in Pudong | 浦东嘉里大酒店 The BREW 酿餐厅 |
| 233 | Specialist tap and bottle selection in Changning | 233商店精酿啤酒 宣化路 |
| Geer | Another beer-bar lead for a Puxi evening | 上海 Geer 嗝 浦西店 |
The first two have a clearer location reference. Geer appears in an August 2026 visitor report, but a report mentioning the Puxi branch is not enough to establish its current entrance or menu. Check the exact branch before adding it to your route.
The BREW: a brewery restaurant in Pudong
The BREW’s official hotel page describes signature beers made by its resident brewer, pub-style food and a patio. The address is 1388 Huamu Road — 花木路1388号, inside Kerry Hotel Pudong. This is the easiest shortlist here when beer and dinner need to happen in one place.
Ask which house beers are pouring and whether there is a seasonal brew. A lighter beer with your meal followed by one different style gives you a better comparison than choosing the strongest option first. Ask about outdoor seating separately; a patio description does not guarantee a seat or suitable weather.
Pudong travelers can keep the evening around the hotel and Century Park area. Visitors staying across the river should compare the full journey with a closer taproom. The hotel name contains “Kerry,” but this is the Pudong hotel, not a beer bar at another Shanghai Kerry property.
233: choose by beer rather than by tap count
The Amap listing for 233 places it at 233 Xuanhua Road — 宣化路233号, in Changning. Independent reports from April and August 2026 describe a varied imported selection. Their tap counts differ, so the useful takeaway is the range, not a promised number of taps.
This suits someone who already knows whether they enjoy hazy IPA, a dry lager, sour beer or a rich stout. Read the current board, ask for the serving size and choose a small pour when exploring an unfamiliar style. A rare imported beer can be substantially different from the ordinary draught option on the same board.
Visitor accounts also describe busy evenings. Treat that as a reason to ask about seating, rather than a guarantee of a lively room or quick service. Have dinner separately unless the bar confirms a food menu that works for your group. A strong bottle fridge does not make every bottle a sensible first drink.
How would I plan one beer evening?
For Pudong, I would eat at The BREW and make that the evening’s only beer destination. For Puxi, I would have dinner near my hotel or near Changning, check 233’s current location and opening, and stay for a small comparison of two styles. I would not schedule a cross-river transfer between them simply to tick both off.
If your daytime plan is in the Former French Concession, finish that walk before deciding whether the transfer to Changning is worthwhile. Our Shanghai neighborhood walking guide helps with that daytime choice, while getting around Shanghai covers the wider transport decision.
What should you order and ask before paying?
Ask whether a beer is brewed by the venue, made by another Chinese brewery, or imported. All three can be worth drinking, but they answer different interests. If your goal is a local brewery experience, a taproom selling guest beers alone will not necessarily provide it.
Compare the price and volume together. Ask whether tastings are available, whether a small pour is paid, and what the bill includes. Do not assume an old promotion or a previous visitor’s receipt remains valid. Save your hotel address in Chinese before the evening and choose the return journey before the last drink.
For skyline drinks or cocktails instead, use our Shanghai bar guide. You can compare this city with Beijing beer or browse the nightlife collection.
Source and verification notes
Research reviewed on October 7, 2026. This guide combines brewery or venue pages with dated independent visitor reports. The shortlist is editorial; we have not visited every venue. Check the selected branch, current taps, opening and booking terms before traveling.
